1248                            Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 780

introduced an ordinance proposing the change of boundaries as re-
quested by the petition. The ordinance shall describe by a de-
scription of clearly ascertained boundary lines, by landmarks and
other well-known terms consistent with the description of other
areas included within the Regional District, the exact area pro-
posed to be included in the change and briefly and accurately des-
cribing the conditions and circumstances applicable thereto.

(c)  Notice and hearing for ordinance of annexation.—The ord-
inance may be adopted by a majority of the County Commissioners
at a hearing, after public notice of such hearing has been given
and published not fewer than four (4) times at not less than weekly
intervals in a newspaper of general circulation in the area proposed
to be annexed. The public notice shall briefly and accurately des-
cribe the proposed change and the conditions and circumstances
applicable thereto. The public notice shall specify a time and place
at which a public hearing will be held by the County Commissioners
on the proposed ordinance. The hearing shall be set for not less
than seven (7) days after the fourth publication of the notices and
shall be held in the Court House at Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

(d)  Enactment of ordinance.—Following the public hearing the
County Commissioners may proceed to enact the ordinance in ac-
cordance with the usual requirements and practices applicable to its
legislative enactments. The ordinance shall not become effective
until at least forty-five (45) days following its final enactment.

(e)  Petition for referendum.—At any time within the forty-five-
day period following the final enactment of the ordinance, a num-
ber of persons equal to not less than twenty per centum (20%) of
the persons who reside in the area and who are owners of not less
than twenty per centum (20%) of the assessed valuation of the real
property located in the area to be included or annexed, and who are
registered as voters in county elections, may in writing petition
the Chairman of the County Commissioners of Prince George's
County for a referendum on the ordinance. Upon the presentation
of a petition to the said Chairman, he shall cause to be made a ver-
ification of the signatures thereon and shall ascertain that the per-
sons signing the petition represent at least twenty per centum
(20%) of the persons who reside in the area to be annexed and are
the owners of not less than twenty per centum (20%) of the as-
sessed valuation of the real property located in the area to be an-
nexed, and are registered voters in county elections. Upon verify-
ing that the requirements of this subsection have been complied
with, the Chairman of the County Commissioners shall suspend
the effectiveness of the ordinance contingent upon the results of
the referendum.

(f)  Notice and hearing for referendum.—The Chairman of the
County Commissioners of Prince George's County shall set a date
for the referendum on the ordinance which shall be not less than
fifteen (15) days and not more than ninety (90) days from the pub-
lication of notices therefor. Such notices shall be published twice
at not less than weekly intervals in a newspaper or newspapers of
general circulation in the area to be annexed. The notices shall
specify the time and place or places at which the referendum will